What is a key reason for using brine solution in washing organic products?

Using brine solution in the washing of organic products serves a crucial role in removing water-soluble impurities. Brine, which is a concentrated solution of salt in water, creates a difference in solubility between the organic compounds and the impurities present. When an organic layer is washed with brine, the water-soluble impurities are transferred into the aqueous layer due to their affinity for the water in the brine.

This process effectively cleanses the organic layer by eliminating salts, sugars, alcohols, and other polar contaminants that could affect the purity of the desired organic compound. As a result, the washed organic product is more refined and ready for further processing or analysis. This method is especially advantageous because it avoids the use of additional organic solvents, which could risk contaminating the product or complicating subsequent purification steps.